Latest news with #TexasLegislature
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas redistricting: Making sense of the high-stakes fight that could decide who controls Congress
Republicans in the Texas Legislature released their proposal Wednesday for new congressional districts in the state that could provide the GOP with five more seats in the House of Representatives if it's approved in time for next year's midterm elections. The move is the latest step in a high-stakes fight taking place across the country as both parties consider using every possible tool at their disposal to tilt legislative maps in their favor. What's happening The decision of how many House members each state gets is made at the federal level, but it's the states themselves that choose how to carve up their territory into their allotted number of districts. There is a long history of parties using this process to draw maps that give them an advantage, often by slicing opposition's electoral strongholds into small pieces or by cramming them all into one district so seats elsewhere in the state are safe. This practice, known as gerrymandering, has become increasingly common in recent years. That's especially true in Republican-led states. Even in the context of recent gerrymandering, what Texas Republicans are trying to do is remarkable for both its timing and the aggressiveness of the partisan slant in its proposed map. States usually redraw their districts every 10 years, after the new census determines where House districts will be apportioned. The Texas GOP have opted to create new maps just five years after the state's last round of redistricting so they will place ahead of the midterms, when Democrats would only need to pick up a few seats to seize control of the House. Republicans currently control 25 of Texas's 38 congressional districts. The new map puts them in position to hold 30 House seats after next year, which would give them 80% of the state's representation in Congress in a state where President Trump secured 56% of the vote in last year's presidential race, according to the official tally from the Texas Secretary of State. Will other GOP states follow Texas's lead? Ohio has unique laws that require the state to redraw its maps before 2026. The GOP currently controls 10 of Ohio's 15 districts. Members of the state GOP are reportedly debating how partisan they should be in putting together their new maps. Depending on how aggressively they gerrymander the new map, Republicans could give themselves two or even three more House seats. In the most extreme case, Democrats could be left with just two congressional seats in a state where Kamala Harris received 44% of the vote in 2024. President Trump has also reportedly encouraged Missouri Republicans to redraw their maps. They already hold six of the state's eight congressional seats, but a plan to split a safe Democratic district in Kansas City could secure an additional seat for the GOP. So far there hasn't been any real redistricting action in other red states, but experts say the maps in states like Florida, Nebraska, Kansas and Nebraska could be carved up to give Republicans more advantages if there's the political will to do so. What are the stakes? With Republicans fully in control of both houses of Congress, Democrats have been largely unable to stand in the way of Trump's agenda. That could change if they gain a majority in either chamber. Flipping the Senate appears unlikely, but early forecasters are giving Democrats strong odds of taking over the House. If they do, Democrats would effectively have veto power over any legislation Trump and the GOP want to pass. They would also have new oversight authority and the ability to launch investigations into the president's actions and hold public hearings on the most controversial moves taken by his administration. The partisan split in the House has been incredibly thin in recent years, in part because gerrymandering has reduced the number of genuinely competitive seats across the country. Republicans adding five seats in Texas, two in Ohio plus possibly a few more in other states could prove to be the difference between holding onto the House or having Democrats be in charge for the final two years of Trump's second term. Democrats threaten to go 'nuclear' Blue state Democrats have made a lot of noise about countering the GOP's redistricting gambit, but experts say the tools they have to actually do that are limited. 'We can sit on the sidelines, talk about the way the world should be,' California Gov. Gavin Newsom said earlier this month. 'Or we can recognize the existential nature that is this moment.' Newsom has said he will push to have deep-blue California redraw its own maps to balance out any gains the GOP makes from redistricting in Texas or elsewhere. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul have made similar statements. Democrats in Congress have also said they're willing to consider any options to prevent Republicans from using redistricting to maintain control of the House. 'If they're going to go nuclear in Texas, I'm going to go nuclear in other places,' Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin told Axios earlier this month. Despite their strong rhetoric, Democrats would face significant hurdles if they wanted to match the GOP tit-for-tat in redistricting. California, a deep-blue state with 14 more congressional seats than any other state, might seem like the obvious place for Democrats to pick up more seats. But congressional districts in the Golden State are currently drawn by an independent commission, not the state Legislature. To get that power back, lawmakers would have to hold a special election and convince California voters to overturn the state's redistricting system. New York also has an independent redistricting commission. Democratic lawmakers unveiled a bill Wednesday that would give them authority over the state's maps again, but it would have to go through a lengthy process that would make it next to impossible for the new districts to be in place by next year's midterms. Lawmakers do control redistricting in Illinois, but the state only has three GOP-held districts, which significantly limits the gains Democrats could make there.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas redistricting: Making sense of the high-stakes fight that could decide who controls Congress
Republicans in the Texas Legislature released their proposal Wednesday for new congressional districts in the state that could provide the GOP with five more seats in the House of Representatives if it's approved in time for next year's midterm elections. The move is the latest step in a high-stakes fight taking place across the country as both parties consider using every possible tool at their disposal to tilt legislative maps in their favor. What's happening The decision of how many House members each state gets is made at the federal level, but it's the states themselves that choose how to carve up their territory into their allotted number of districts. There is a long history of parties using this process to draw maps that give them an advantage, often by slicing opposition's electoral strongholds into small pieces or by cramming them all into one district so seats elsewhere in the state are safe. This practice, known as gerrymandering, has become increasingly common in recent years. That's especially true in Republican-led states. Even in the context of recent gerrymandering, what Texas Republicans are trying to do is remarkable for both its timing and the aggressiveness of the partisan slant in its proposed map. States usually redraw their districts every 10 years, after the new census determines where House districts will be apportioned. The Texas GOP have opted to create new maps just five years after the state's last round of redistricting so they will place ahead of the midterms, when Democrats would only need to pick up a few seats to seize control of the House. Republicans currently control 25 of Texas's 38 congressional districts. The new map puts them in position to hold 30 House seats after next year, which would give them 80% of the state's representation in Congress in a state where President Trump secured 56% of the vote in last year's presidential race, according to the official tally from the Texas Secretary of State. Will other GOP states follow Texas's lead? Ohio has unique laws that require the state to redraw its maps before 2026. The GOP currently controls 10 of Ohio's 15 districts. Members of the state GOP are reportedly debating how partisan they should be in putting together their new maps. Depending on how aggressively they gerrymander the new map, Republicans could give themselves two or even three more House seats. In the most extreme case, Democrats could be left with just two congressional seats in a state where Kamala Harris received 44% of the vote in 2024. President Trump has also reportedly encouraged Missouri Republicans to redraw their maps. They already hold six of the state's eight congressional seats, but a plan to split a safe Democratic district in Kansas City could secure an additional seat for the GOP. So far there hasn't been any real redistricting action in other red states, but experts say the maps in states like Florida, Nebraska, Kansas and Nebraska could be carved up to give Republicans more advantages if there's the political will to do so. What are the stakes? With Republicans fully in control of both houses of Congress, Democrats have been largely unable to stand in the way of Trump's agenda. That could change if they gain a majority in either chamber. Flipping the Senate appears unlikely, but early forecasters are giving Democrats strong odds of taking over the House. If they do, Democrats would effectively have veto power over any legislation Trump and the GOP want to pass. They would also have new oversight authority and the ability to launch investigations into the president's actions and hold public hearings on the most controversial moves taken by his administration. The partisan split in the House has been incredibly thin in recent years, in part because gerrymandering has reduced the number of genuinely competitive seats across the country. Republicans adding five seats in Texas, two in Ohio plus possibly a few more in other states could prove to be the difference between holding onto the House or having Democrats be in charge for the final two years of Trump's second term. Democrats threaten to go 'nuclear' Blue state Democrats have made a lot of noise about countering the GOP's redistricting gambit, but experts say the tools they have to actually do that are limited. 'We can sit on the sidelines, talk about the way the world should be,' California Gov. Gavin Newsom said earlier this month. 'Or we can recognize the existential nature that is this moment.' Newsom has said he will push to have deep-blue California redraw its own maps to balance out any gains the GOP makes from redistricting in Texas or elsewhere. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul have made similar statements. Democrats in Congress have also said they're willing to consider any options to prevent Republicans from using redistricting to maintain control of the House. 'If they're going to go nuclear in Texas, I'm going to go nuclear in other places,' Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin told Axios earlier this month. Despite their strong rhetoric, Democrats would face significant hurdles if they wanted to match the GOP tit-for-tat in redistricting. California, a deep-blue state with 14 more congressional seats than any other state, might seem like the obvious place for Democrats to pick up more seats. But congressional districts in the Golden State are currently drawn by an independent commission, not the state Legislature. To get that power back, lawmakers would have to hold a special election and convince California voters to overturn the state's redistricting system. New York also has an independent redistricting commission. Democratic lawmakers unveiled a bill Wednesday that would give them authority over the state's maps again, but it would have to go through a lengthy process that would make it next to impossible for the new districts to be in place by next year's midterms. Lawmakers do control redistricting in Illinois, but the state only has three GOP-held districts, which significantly limits the gains Democrats could make there.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Texas Lawmaker Files Recreational Cannabis Legalization Bill
A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill to legalize marijuana as the legislature reconvenes for a ... More special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott. A Texas lawmaker last week introduced legislation to legalize recreational cannabis for adults. The measure, HB 195, was filed in the Texas House of Representatives by Democratic Rep. Jessica González on July 24. González filed the new bill as the Texas legislature met in a special session called by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The governor called for the special session last month to renew deliberations on several issues from this year's regular legislative session, including the regulation of hemp products marketed for human consumption. HB 195 Legalizes Weed For Adults If passed by the legislature and signed into law, HB 195 would legalize recreational marijuana in Texas for adults aged 21 and older, online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment reported on Thursday. The measure would allow adults to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, including up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates. Adults would also be permitted to share the same quantities of cannabis, provided such exchanges are not advertised, promoted or paid for. Adults would be permitted to keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis at home, although amounts over 2.5 ounces would have to be kept in a locked or secured area. The measure does not legalize home cannabis cultivation, however. Legislation Authorizes Regulated Sales Of Recreational Marijuana The legislation also legalizes commercial production and sales of recreational cannabis, which would be regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (DLR). The agency would be tasked with issuing licenses for cannabis growers, transporters, testing facilities, processors and retailers, beginning no later than November 1, 2026. The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees the DLR, would be responsible for drafting regulations to govern the cannabis industry. The bill mandates the adoption of regulations covering several issues, including requirements for child-resistant packaging. Marijuana product packaging would also be required to be labeled as cannabis and would be barred from resembling the packaging of commercial candy products. The commission would also be required to develop regulations for a track-and-trace system to monitor cannabis products as they travel through the supply chain. The legislation also mandates rules covering the security of cannabis facilities, restricting dangerous pesticides, and the advertising and display of cannabis products. HB 195 also mandates the distribution of taxes and fees collected from the legal cannabis industry. The DLR would receive 10% of revenue to oversee and administer the state's legal cannabis program. Another 10% would go to the Texas Department of Safety to oversee cannabis laboratory testing, while 20% would go to municipalities and counties with at least one licensed cannabis business. The remainder of revenue collected would be earmarked for the Texas Education Agency's Foundation School Program. The Texas State Capitol in Austin. Bill Gives Local Governments Some Control Over Cannabis Businesses Cannabis businesses would only be permitted in jurisdictions where the local government has authorized commercial cannabis activity. Local governments would also be allowed to set rules governing the number, operating hours and location of cannabis businesses in their jurisdiction. The legislation allows property owners to ban cannabis smoking on the premises. However, bans on other forms of cannabis consumption, cannabis possession or marijuana paraphernalia are not permitted. The bill does not legalize consuming cannabis in a motor vehicle, watercraft or aircraft. Consuming cannabis in a public place would also remain illegal except in areas authorized by local governments. Texas Cannabis Activists Laud New Legalization Bill Heather Fazio, director of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center, applauded the introduction of HB 195. 'As we continue the conversation about hemp regulation, we appreciate Rep. Gonzalez's bill to simply legalize and regulate cannabis across the board,' Fazio told Marijuana Moment. 'Her bill cuts to the chase: cannabis should be legal for adult use. Not more arrests. No more criminal records. And no more confusing policies. Just safe, legal cannabis in Texas.' HB 195 is awaiting assignment to a legislative committee in the Texas House of Representatives. If the measure is passed and signed into law, Texas will join the 24 states that have legalized recreational marijuana. Last month, lawmakers significantly expanded the state's medical cannabis program, making the Lone Star State the 40th state to adopt comprehensive medical marijuana legalization.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
How redistricting in Texas and other states could change the game for US House elections
Texas Legislature WASHINGTON (AP) — Redistricting usually happens after the once-a-decade population count by the U.S. Census Bureau or in response to a court ruling. Now, Texas Republicans want to break that tradition — and other states could follow suit. President Trump has asked the Texas Legislature to create districts, in time for next year's midterm elections, that will send five more Republicans to Washington and make it harder for Democrats to regain the majority and blunt his agenda. The state has 38 seats in the House. Republicans now hold 25 and Democrats 12, with one seat vacant after the death of a Democrat. 'There's been a lot more efforts by the parties and political actors to push the boundaries – literally and figuratively – to reconfigure what the game is,' said Doug Spencer, Rothgerber Jr. Chair in Constitutional Law at the University of Colorado. Other states are waiting to see what Texas does and whether to follow suit. The rules of redistricting can be vague and variable; each state has its own set of rules and procedures. Politicians are gauging what voters will tolerate when it comes to politically motivated mapmaking. Here's what to know about the rules of congressional redistricting: When does redistricting normally happen? Every decade, the Census Bureau collects population data used to divide the 435 House seats among the 50 states based on the updated head count. It's a process known as reapportionment. States that grew relative to others might gain a seat at the expense of those whose populations stagnated or declined. States use their own procedures to draw lines for the assigned number of districts. The smallest states receive just one representative, which means the entire state is a single congressional district. Some state constitutions require independent commissions to devise the political boundaries or to advise the legislature. When legislatures take the lead, lawmakers can risk drawing lines that end up challenged in court, usually for violating the Voting Rights Act. Mapmakers can get another chance to resubmit new maps. Sometimes, judges draw the maps on their own. Is midcycle redistricting allowed? By the first midterm elections after the latest population count, each state is ready with its maps, but those districts do not always stick. Courts can find that the political lines are unconstitutional. There is no national impediment to a state trying to redraw districts in the middle of the decade and to do it for political reasons, such as increasing representation by the party in power. 'The laws about redistricting just say you have to redistrict after every census,' Spencer said. 'And then some state legislatures got a little clever and said, well it doesn't say we can't do it more.' Some states do have laws that would prevent midcycle redistricting or make it difficult to do so in a way that benefits one party. Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., has threatened to retaliate against the GOP push in Texas by drawing more favorable Democratic seats in his state. That goal, however, is complicated by a constitutional amendment that requires an independent commission to lead the process. Is Texas' effort unprecedented? Texas has done it before. When the Legislature failed to agree on a redistricting plan after the 2000 census, a federal court stepped in with its own map. Republican Tom DeLay of Texas, who was then the U.S. House majority leader, thought his state should have five more districts friendly to his party. 'I'm the majority leader and we want more seats,′′ he said at the time. Statehouse Democrats protested by fleeing to Oklahoma, depriving the Legislature of enough votes to officially conduct any business. But DeLay eventually got his way, and Republicans replaced Democrats in five seats in 2004. What do the courts say about gerrymandering? In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that federal courts should not get involved in debates over political gerrymandering, the practice of drawing districts for partisan gain. In that decision, Chief Justice John Roberts said redistricting is ' highly partisan by any measure. ' But courts may demand new maps if they believe the congressional boundaries dilute the votes of a racial minority group, in violation of the Voting Rights Act. Could other states follow suit? Washington Rep. Suzan DelBene, who leads House Democrats' campaign arm, indicated at a Christian Science Monitor event that if Texas follows through on passing new maps, Democratic-led states would look at their own political lines. 'If they go down this path, absolutely folks are going to respond across the country,' DelBene said. 'We're not going to be sitting back with one hand tied behind our back while Republicans try to undermine voices of the American people.' In New York, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul recently joined Newsom in expressing openness to taking up mid-decade redistricting. But state laws mandating independent commissions or blunting the ability to gerrymander would come into play. Among Republican-led states, Ohio could try to further expand the 10-5 edge that the GOP holds in the House delegation; a quirk in state law requires Ohio to redraw its maps before the 2026 midterms. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he was considering early redistricting and 'working through what that would look like.'
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tarrant County Republican won't seek reelection to TX House; mayor bids for seat
Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, a Southlake Republican, is not seeking reelection to the Texas House. Capriglione was first elected to House District 98 in 2012. The district falls within Tarrant County and includes Colleyville, Grapevine, Westlake and parts of Euless, Flower Mound, Southlake and Trophy Club. 'This has not been an easy decision,' Capriglione said in the post. 'Serving you in the Texas Legislature has been one of the great honors of my life. When I first ran, I had a clear purpose: go down to Austin, work hard, and fight for the principles and values that make Texas strong. Over the years, I've done exactly that. And while I've given this work everything I have, I also feel in my heart that I've accomplished what I set out to do. It's time for a new chapter.' Capriglione said he'll finish out the remainder of his term, which ends in January. He serves as chair of the Delivery of Government Efficiency (DOGE) committee, on the Ways and Means Committee and on the House Subcommittee on Property Tax Appraisals. He chairs the House Innovation and Technology Caucus, and is the owner and president of Texas Adventure Capital LLC. 'This has been a journey of faith, service, and relentless effort,' Capriglione said in the post. 'I don't yet know what the future holds, but I trust that God is still writing my story. For now, I look forward to spending more time with my family, returning to life back home, and continuing to serve in whatever way I can, just not in this same role.' Soon after his announcement, Keller Mayor Armin Mizani announced he was running for House District 98. He had previously announced a bid for Senate District 9, but is no longer running for the seat in a coming special election, his campaign confirmed. His announcement came with a slew of endorsements from Tarrant County area elected officials. 'We've received a groundswell of support and encouragement to run for this seat,' Mizani said. 'And while we may be pursuing a different office to serve our communities, our purpose remains the same: to ensure our communities have an unapologetic conservative champion representing us in Austin — someone focused on keeping Texas the best place to live, work, and raise a family.' A Nov. 4 special election is being held for the Senate seat that was vacated by Sen. Kelly Hancock, who's now the acting Texas Comptroller. Republicans Leigh Wambsganss and John Huffman, the former mayor of Southlake, as well as Democrat Taylor Rehmet are seeking the Senate seat, which covers much of Northeast Tarrant County including North Richland Hills, Keller and White Settlement. In addition to Hancock and Capriglione's exits, Rep. Tony Tinderholt, an Arlington Republican, has said he won't seek reelection, instead running for Tarrant County Commissioner, precinct 2. Sen. Brian Birdwell, a Granbury Republican, isn't seeking reelection to Senate District 22, and Rep. David Cook, a Mansfield Republican, is seeking his Senate seat. Solve the daily Crossword
